Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad hits Air India staffer with slipper; complainant says 'God save our country'

Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad said the Air India staff member misbehaved with him.

Pic courtsey: ANI

Pune/New Delhi: In a shocking incident, Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad on Thursday beat an Air India staff member with his slipper over the issue of a seat of his choice.

The MP claimed that his ticket was for business class but Air India provided him economy class.

The Air India staff member has been identified as 60-year-old R Sukumar, the duty manager. Talking to news agency ANI, Sukumar said: "Yes, he (Gaikwad) misbehaved with me and broke my glasses. I never expected this." 

He wants a FIR to be registered against Gaikwad.

In a complaint letter, Sukumar mentioned that Gaikwad hit him, used bad words and not only broke his specs but also humiliated him in front of the whole crew. "When I told him what he is asking is not possible, he became abusive and used foul language...God save our country if this is the culture and behavior of our MPs."

Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju said, "No political party will encourage physical assault. It should never have happened." 

The incident took place when flight AI852 from Pune landed at New Delhi airport around 10.30 am on Thursday.

Apparently nursing a grouse, Gaikwad - who represents Osmanabad (Maharashtra) in Lok Sabha - refused to get off the flight, causing inconvenience to other passengers and crew on board.

Air India sent some officials to enquire the matter and learnt that he was forced to travel economy class though he held an open executive class ticket.

When they requested him to get up and deboard, Gaikwad reportedly flared up and assaulted them with his slipper, the sources said.

Later, he deboarded the flight. 

In a statement, the Air India said it has constituted a team to probe into the whole incident.

The Shiv Sena MP, meanwhile, confessed hitting the Air India staff member `25 times`, alleging he misbehaved with him.

“Haan maine usko maara tha, usne badtameezi ki thi (Yes, I hit him. He misbehaved with me),” said Gaikwad.

“Do you expect me to hear their abuses quietly?,” further asked the first-time lawmaker from Maharashtra.

Here is what he said in his defence:

WATCH: Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad admits that he beat an Air India staff member with slippers,remains defiant pic.twitter.com/1ws5nYptkn — ANI (@ANI_news) March 23, 2017

The sources said the flight was operated by an old ATR aircraft which has only economy class configuration. So he could not have been allotted a business class seat.

Talking to news agency ANI, Shiv Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande said the party does not advocate such behavior. "R Gaikwad is a popular MP. We want to find out what made him lose his temper, what instigated him should be probed," said Kayande.

Meanwhile, Gaikwad has been trolled on social media networks for his unruly conduct and some asked his party to take action against him.

(With Agency inputs)